The Malawi Bureau of Standards(MBS) has said fuel testing centres it is establishing in the country’s borders are expected to roll out from Monday next week starting with Songwe border.
Mwanza and Dedza centres will roll out operations on December 1.
In an interview MBS Director General, Symon Mandala, said the centres will serve to ensure importation of quality liquid fuels.
He said there is already import quality schemes that focus on other commodities hence, the intervention to extend to fuels to protect consumers and importers from substandard fuel compromised due to adulteration.
”The Project is starting with a capital investment of K500 million. We have so far acquired testing equipment known as Benchtop fuel quality analyser (BFQA) to be stationed at the three testing centres in Mwana, Dedza and Songwe.”
Furthermore, the proposed testing centres have been refurbished to meet the requisite conditions for testing facility and we have trained our officers in fuel testing. Additionally, four more officers have been recruited to serve as analysts. The capacity of MBS fuel testing centres in Blantyre has also been enhanced to serve as a referral laboratory for fuel testing,” Mandala said.
He added that the facilities will also support the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) to discharge its regulatory functions on importation of liquid fuels.
Mera spokesperson, Fitima Khonje, said the centres will help ensure full traceability of fuel quality from the point of entry into the country.
”These centres will act as an early warning system for non-compliant fuels entering into the country and allows stakeholders to plan corrective actions, they will also improve the general management of fuel into the country as all imports will be tested,”Khonje said.
Source: The Daily Times_October 23,2020-Chimwemwe Mangazi